Rafael Nadal News, Pictures & Buzz

'Wouldn't recommend it': Legend's retirement advice for Roger Federer  Yahoo Sport Australia

2020 US Open: When is it, how can you watch it on TV, and which players have pulled out?  Tennishead

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer warned rival is 'super determined' to topple them  Tennishead

"I couldn't believe what had just happened" - Stefanos Tsitsipas recalls 2018 win over Novak Djokovic  Sportskeeda

Rusedski advises Jo Konta to follow Rafael Nadal's lead to regain confidence  Metro.co.uk

The Dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic Is Not Normal Says Garbine Muguruza  Essentially Sports

Roger Federer And Pete Sampras’ Former Coach Reflects On Tennis’ New State  International Business Times

Garbine Muguruza: "Federer, Nadal and Djokovic's dominance is not normal"  Tennis World USA

Rafael Nadal: 'I respect all the players, but it's hard to say who is right'  Tennis World USA

After Rafael Nadal, Miko Eala trades hits with Caroline Garcia  Manila Bulletin

From Ivan Lendl To Rafael Nadal: Classic Moments In Canada  ATP Tour

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic win because..." - reasons for trio's dominance explained  Tennishead

Andy Murray relinquishes US Open wildcard as further withdrawal promotes him into main draw  Tennishead

2020 US Open field: Ashleigh Barty, Rafael Nadal lead list of withdrawals due to Covid-19 concerns  DraftKings Nation

“It Has Taken Its Toll” – Rafael Nadal Opens up on the Effect of Confinement  Essentially Sports

World No. 5 Elina Svitolina follows Rafael Nadal, withdrawing from US Open  Tennis World USA

Luxury Watchmaker Richard Mille Engages in a Brand New Venture With Rafael Nadal  Essentially Sports

Filipino ace Miko Eala trains with tennis great Rafael Nadal  INQUIRER.net

US Open TD: 'Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest players. We support his decision'  Tennis World USA

'Rafael Nadal is attentive to all details, nothing is left to chance', says coach  Tennis World USA

TrackerTennis: Rafael Nadal may hurt his Roland Garros chances by skipping US Open,’ says his uncle T&&#i Follow @TrackerTennis fo… https://t.co/biMS9HWYcN

lordbaruda1987: RT @WeAreTennis: Rafael Nadal about skipping @usopen: "The health situati@^ is the first basic inc@^venience when making my decisi@^. (...)…

gimmeHutchence: In other news, I miss Rafael Nadal Parera.

mindysu2801: RT @WeAreTennis: Rafael Nadal about skipping @usopen: "The health situati@% is the first basic inc@%venience when making my decisi@%. (...)…

MThorpXXi: 6 things I like. 6 tags. Rafael Nadal Coffee My fav sports teams Music Large bodies of water Sneakers @CTrainham… https://t.co/b#~gY1r3mi

Rafael Nadal has started to play on the tour again, after 7 months out. He is playing at the Chile Open. He won his 1st round match. I think Rafa has made his comeback at a good time. Q1.But how quickly can he get to the top. Q2.Do you still see Nadal as the favourite for this years French Open? There seems to be a common thought that Rafa is still the favourite for the upcoming ClayCourt season and ultimately the French Open.

Just your opinions :) “Shoot for the moon, because if you miss, you’ll land upon the stars.” As I sit here reading Rafa Nadal’s Press Conference after his almost 6 hour match (in which he lost 7-5 4-6 2-6 7-6(5) 5-7 to the current World #1 and Defending Champion Novak Djokovic), this is what runs through my mind. Regarding the match, Rafa won the first set with a gameplan in mind, but Novak came back with “the black shirt” to win the next 2 sets dominantly. At that point in time, Rafa looked like he lost his belief in everything. But in the 4th set, he discovered a bit of magic when down 3-4 on his own serve 0-40. He saved 3 break points, essentially match points, and went on to win in a crucial tiebreaker. The 5th set? Brilliant from Rafa. He ended up breaking but at 4-2, 30-15, Rafa missed a BHDTL on an open court by inches. Novak went on to win that game. Inevitably, the championship match. 6 hours of the most grueling tennis I have ever seen in my life. 6 hours. And Rafa was so close to putting away the 0-6 vs Nole carrying over from 2011. But Nole showed the fighting spirit and will necessary to come out in the end. And what a match. Many people can only find the negatives in Rafa losing. Nole is now going for the Career Grand Slam and the Grand Slam at the French Open, Rafa’s “domain” and stranglehold slam. It’s going to be a hell of a Grand Slam tournament, that’s for sure. But people are saying that Rafa can never beat Novak again, because he can’t even beat a fatigued Novak. I think that’s so unfair to Rafa. Because they have forgotten that most picked Rafa not even to get past Rog in the semis, Rafa has made 4 GS Finals in a row, and 7 out of the past 9 Finals in the GS. But Rafa made bad history by losing 3 consecutive Finals in a row. To one man. Novak Djokovic. People don’t understand the magnitude of what this means for Rafa as a player. What did he say after the USO? He feels he was on the way. Today, he pushed Novak to the utmost level of epic proportions. And it was a sight. I’m sure that Rafa was a little down, but to be part of such an amazing match, and to show he has what it takes to hurt Novak, it took real guts to play a more aggressive/uncomfortable style of game. And with that, Rafa gave me hope. Undeniably a little amount of hope, at that  I don’t think he deserves all the ragging. He’s never been in a situation like this before, and NO it has nothing to do with the “karma” from what he did to Roger. When did Roger ever lose 7 times in a row This is Rafa. A completely different person. He wants to work hard to push Novak. He’s always had to overcome expectations and players by switching up parts of his game. Once more, what’s with all the bandwagon fans of Roger too, joining Novak? That’s just preposterous, especially when Novak could be beating Roger, by then end of the day, too. With the trophy ceremony, Rafa was classy as always in acknowledging everyone there, and Novak as classy in his words about Rafa. Both looked like they were ready to keel over, by that time too. They even got to sit in chairs for a few minutes!! I like this specific question Nole got asked in his presser, if he felt sorry for Rafa: Q. Is there any part of you that feels a little bit sorry for Rafa? I mean, he keeps coming up against you in the final and he keeps losing. NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, I was in that position. I was in that position a couple years ago, you know, losing most of the semifinals and finals against him and Roger in Grand Slams so I know how it feels. I really thought what I said sincerely on the court, is that unfortunately there had to only be one winner because we both gave it all. We both put 100% of our abilities on the court and played to the last moment. Unfortunately there couldn't be two winners, but he definitely deserved to be a winner as well tonight. You know, I would be saying same thing if I'm sitting here as a loser. Great answer by Nole. And I agree. It’s unfortunate there had to be a loser in this one.  But I’m sure Rafa will be back. He’s always proved that he can come back, and he’ll make it much more exciting when he does. This is Rafa after all. I’m not sure how I got to love Rafa, but to me, he remains my favorite closely ahead of Roger. And I’m going to stick by Rafa no matter what. He’s on the right track, and if he says he feels better, I believe him :) I’m so happy for Rafa. And I truly will be there for him, until he retires from tennis. The best kind of champion there is. A river splits open a rock, not because of its power but of its persistence. The one and only. Rafael Nadal.

What will happen? Cilic has beaten Nadal in their only 1 head to head.. Can he repeat that??